Cringe to Confident: Speak Up for Yourself: 11 Ways to Build Your Confidence & Unlock Opportunities
Cringe to Confident: Speak Up for Yourself: 11 Ways to Build Your Confidence & Unlock Opportunities
Have you ever scrolled through LinkedIn and wondered, “How do these people show up so confidently?” It feels like everyone else knows exactly what to say, how to present, and how to network, while you’re sitting there second-guessing every word in your email draft.
The secret? Career confidence is something you build over time. And sometimes, the steps to build it feel… well, a little cringey. It could be speaking to a stranger, talking to yourself in the mirror, or posting that first LinkedIn update, confidence often comes from doing things that feel uncomfortable at first.
The good news? Those “cringe” moments are what turn you into someone who aligns their purpose, sets boundaries, negotiates better salaries, and thrives in growth opportunities.
These “cringe” moments have taken me from unknown to an award winning business person, securing 2 book deals, a BBC show, 100s of spoken talks and even an advert with LinkedIn as I was named as their top voice and changemaker. In this newsletter, I’ll share 11 practical (and yes, sometimes cringey) ways to go from cringe to confidence and why these habits work for public speaking, networking, and building long-term career success.
11 Ways to Build Your Confidence When Presenting (Cringe to Confident)
Record Yourself Speaking - Yes, it feels weird at first. But hearing your own voice helps you spot where you can improve for presentations, interviews, and public speaking.
Talk to Yourself in the Mirror - Before a big meeting, give yourself a pep talk. Sounds silly, but it rewires your brain for self confidence.
Post on LinkedIn Once a Week - Start with something small, like sharing an article or a lesson you learned. Over time, you’ll feel confident sharing your voice online.
Practice Your Elevator Pitch Out Loud - Not just in your head, but actually saying it out loud. The more you practice, the more natural it sounds in real conversations.
Attend a Networking Event Alone - Walking in solo is scary, but it forces you to initiate conversations and that’s exactly how confidence grows.
Volunteer to Speak in a Meeting - Even if it’s just to share a quick update, raising your voice helps you overcome the fear of being heard.
Start a “Wins” Journal - Write down three small wins every day. This reminds you of your progress, even when imposter syndrome hits.
Send That Cold Email - Reaching out to someone you admire feels bold, but it opens doors for mentorship and opportunities.
Practice Saying Your Name with Confidence - This might sound weird, but owning your name when introducing yourself sets the tone for your presence in the room.
Take an Online Public Speaking Course - Investing in a structured program helps you learn techniques to communicate with clarity and authority.
Celebrate Your Small Wins Publicly - Share milestones on LinkedIn or with your team. It normalises talking about your achievements without feeling arrogant.
Why Career Confidence Feels Cringe at First
Anything that’s new will push you out of your comfort zone. But that’s exactly where growth happens. Think of the first time you rode a bike when you were young, the experience was awkward, unsteady and even embarrassing. But now? You don’t even think about it and jump on that Santander bike to ride around London in the summer.
The same applies to public speaking, networking, and leadership skills. The things that feel “too much” now will feel second nature later and take you from nervous to knowledgeable.
🎥 Watch here: 5 Ways to Get Confident with Public Speaking to learn more about how to build your confidence when public speaking.
The Link Between Public Speaking and Professional Growth
One of the biggest confidence boosters in my career was saying yes to public speaking, even when I felt terrified and was a stuttering mess. My first external gig was terrible - little crowd, yellow slides and no engagement. In meetings, I would over share or let my emotions get the best of me. However, the more I did the work and asked for feedback, the better I became and my hand shot up at new opportunities. This led to me speaking at events, panels, and conferences - which didn’t just build my confidence; it expanded my network, created career opportunities, and positioned me as a thought leader.
If you want to accelerate professional growth, practice speaking in front of others, even if it’s a small team update. Don’t do it blind - build your own slides, add notes to the deck and practise before you present. That’s how you build visibility and trust.
You can also check out my previous post, where someone asked me "How are you so confident in front of 300 people" and the truth about building confidence.
From Cringe to Confident: Your Next Steps
Pick one thing from the list of 11 and do it this week. Confidence in presenting doesn’t happen overnight, instead it’s built through consistent action, even when it feels uncomfortable.
For more inspiration, check out my past newsletter, 5 Simple Ways to Show Up Confidently at Work Events, where I’ve shared detailed tips on career confidence and public speaking.
But remember, the people you admire didn’t start by being confident from the start, instead they started by being cringey. But the difference to making it happen? Well, they kept going.
So, let me know which of these confidence-building habits are you going to try first?
📩 This newsletter was written by Sonya Barlow, entrepreneur, author, and presenter. Work with Sonya Barlow for consultancy, training, keynotes, and campaigns. Email: hello@sonyabarlow.co.uk
Sonya Barlow is an award-winning entrepreneur, presenter, and author with over 100K followers. She hosts her self-titled YouTube show The Sonya Barlow Show, authored the business book Unprepared to Entrepreneur, and runs a business inclusion consultancy and networking app, the LMF Network. Connect via email 📩 - Hello@SonyaBarlow.Co.Uk